License plate frame



Rim/v., 29, w38. N. SCHNELL, 29333,@4

INVENTOR. Mmm A( www? A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 PATENT OFFICE LICENSE PLATE FRAME William N.Schnell, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 18,

4 Claims.

rihis invention relates tolan extensible decorative frame for licenseplates.

An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative framewhich will iit license plates of various sizes and which may beconveniently mounted thereon. With previous devices in this art it hasbeen necessary to use a screw driver or pliers or other tool forfastening the frames to the license plates. An object of the presentinvention is to avoid the inconvenience and necessity for tighteningscrews or bending fasteners. This object has been accomplished by anovel design of a decorative frame and the use of fastening clips whichsecure the frame on all four sides of the license plate.

Another object of the invention has to do with details in the design ofstopping lugs to prevent detachment of the parts of the frame.

Other objects and features of the invention have to do with details ofconstruction of the slides of the frame and the fastening clips as willbe brought out in the following description and claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l illustrates the decorative frame as it is used around a licenseplate on a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a front assembly view of the frame.

Fig. 3 is a partial rear view of the frame with a portion in crosssection to illustrate the details.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate two modifications of the fastening clips to beused with the frame.

Referring to Fig. 2, the decorative frame consists of L-shaped orangular corner members 6 and straight connecting sections I and 8. The

longer sections 'I are for the horizontal sides of the frame and theshorter sections 8 are for the vertical sides of the frame. Clips 9 aremounted on the legs of the corner members E.

Referring to the corner members in detail, they have a channelled crosssection, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with sides I0 and I I forming thechannel. The outer side IIJ is preferably higher than the inner side II. An inwardly extending stop lug I2 is formed on the sides II of eachcorner at both outer extremities (Fig. 3). The corners 6 are designed sothat they may be made as diecasting. Consequently, they furnish arigidity to the frame.

The straight connection sections 1 and 8 also have a channel crosssection with sides I3 and I4, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These straightsections are formed to telescope the respective legs of the cornermembers 6. The outer edges of the sides I3 and I4 are rolled over thesides I0 and Il 1938, Serial No. 196,732

of the corner sections, as shown: at I5 and I6 in Fig. 4.- VA sliding tis thus provided between the corner sections and the straight sections.As best illustrated in Fig. 3, the rolled edge I6 is formed to enclosethe lug I2 which may slide 5 therein. After the corners and the straightsections are assembled, the ends of the rolled edge I6 on the sides I3of the straight sections are crimped as shown at I'I to form a narrowedsection which will slide on the sides I I of the corners. These crimpedportions I'I will cooperate with the lugs I2 to guide the sliding partsand to lock the various members from separating when fully extended.

The straight sections 'l and 8 are stampings of sheet metal. Since thecorners 6 are diecastings and the straight sections stampings the frameis considerably less expensive to manufacture than license framespreviously designed.

Mounted on each leg of the corners 6 are the clips 9 which are formed ofspring steel. In the modification of the spring clips shown in Fig. 4, astruck out portion I8 is formed with a curved portion which is adaptedto lock with the embossed rib or groove usually formed at the edge of astandard license plate I9. The corners 6 of Fig. 4 are provided withraised portions 6a, to the top of which the clips 9 are riveted. In Fig.5 a slightly different modication of spring clip 9a is illustrated. Ananchoring portion of the U- 30 shaped clip is riveted to the cornermember 6 and a curved portion 2| engages a groove 22 surrounding theedge of the license plate I9.

It will be seen that to mount the decorative frame it is necessary onlyto open the frame to dimensions larger than the license plate, place itaround the plate and collapse it so that the spring clips 9 engage therespective sides of the plate and snap-over into engagement with thegrooves at the edge of the plate. The clips are formed in such a mannerthat they will be under tension when the plat-e is in position so thatthere is no chance that the frame will become loose or rattle on theplate.

What I claim is:

l. An adjustable frame for a license number plate having edge grooves,comprising angle members, connecting sections slidably telescoping therespective legs of said angle members to form an expansible frame, andspring clip means on said angle members comprising a piece of springmaterial bent upon itself to form an anchoring portion and a plateengaging portion extending par- @Hel to and spaced from the anchoringportion and provided with a convex portion for engaging the groove ofthe plate.

2. An adjustable frame for a license number plate having edge grooves,comprising angle members, connecting sections slidably telescoping therespective legs of said angle members to form an expansible frame, meanson said members and means on said sections for guiding the relativemovement therebetween, and spring clip means on said angle memberscomprising a U- shaped spring piece having one leg adapted to serve asan anchoring portion to be riveted to the angle members and another legextending parallel to and beyond the anchoring leg and having a convexportion for engaging the groove of a license plate.

3. An adjustable frame for a license number plate having edge grooves,comprising angle members, connecting sections slidably telescoping therespective legs of said angle members to form an expansible frame, meanson lsaid members and means on said sections for guiding the relativemovement therebetween, and spring clip means on said angle memberscomprising a substantially U-shaped spring piece having one leg of the Uadapted to be riveted to a raised portion on said angle members and theother leg of the U extending parallel to and spaced from the first legand having struck out portions pointing toward the bight of the U andprovided with a con- Vex portion for engaging the edge groove of alicense plate.

4. An adjustable frame for a license number plate having edge grooves,comprising angle members, connecting sections slidably telescoping therespective legs of said angle members to form an expansible frameadapted to receive the edges of said plate, and spring clip means onsaid angle members comprising a piece of spring material bent uponitself to form a U-shaped spring adapted to receive the edges of saidplate and having portions for engaging the groove of the plate.

WILLIAM N. SCHNELL.

